Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Veteran's initial claim of a 30 percent rating for tinea pedis, cruris, corporis (skin disability) from May 5, 2011 to September 12, 2012 was granted. The appeal for a higher rating is denied. Service connection claims for lumbar spine and hip disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his DDD of the Lumbar Spine and RLE radiculopathy has been remanded due to additional development being required. His TDIU prior to September 1, 2015 is also addressed.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for low back and left eye disabilities based on receipt of new and material evidence. The claims are now considered for their merits.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is granted a rating of 70 percent effective June 12, 2012. The Veteran’s lumbar spine disability remains at a 40 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and effective dates have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeals.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his lumbar strain with spondylosis and stenosis is being remanded. Additionally, the TDIU claim is also being remanded due to its inextricability from the increased rating claim.

The Veteran's initial claim for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and cervical spondylosis was denied. The VA granted a 50% rating for insomnia from May 24, 2017 to January 27, 2020.,From January 28, 2020 onwards, the Veteran's claim for increased ratings for insomnia with major depressive disorder was denied.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for chronic lumbosacral strain was denied, but he received a separate compensable rating (10%) for sciatic radiculopathy of the right lower extremity since October 2, 2019.

The Board dismissed the issues of an increased rating for a lumbar disability and service connection for left ulnar neuropathy, as well as the claims for migraine headaches, gastrointestinal disorder, tinnitus, eczema, and reduction of knee ratings. The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn by his representative.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 40 percent for his lumbar spine disability, as there is no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis of the thoracolumbar spine.

The Board denied a rating higher than 20 percent for the service-connected lumbar spine disability, finding that the Veteran's disability did not meet criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion or ankylosis.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for service-connected major depressive disorder was denied.,The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with IVDS is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for his cervical spine spondylosis and degenerative disc disease was dismissed as the Veteran elected to have all of his appeals reviewed under the AMA system.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right hip, cirrhosis of liver, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and hypertension due to new relevant medical evidence. The claims are being remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded several issues, including increased evaluations for various spine and joint conditions, as well as service connection for asthma. Additionally, the TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient compliance with previous directives, specifically regarding the Veteran's lay statements about continuous back pain since service.

The Veteran's low back strain with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is rated at 20 percent, which does not meet his claim for a higher rating.,The Veteran's right knee chondromalacia with degenerative changes is currently rated at 10 percent. The Veteran seeks an increased rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate examination findings, specifically regarding functional loss during flare-ups and repeated use.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for varicocele of the left hemiscrotum, service connection for low back disability, and service connection for left hip disability were all denied. The Board found that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's low back disability is granted service connection. The left inguinal hernia was found to not recur prior to March 16, 2020 and a compensable rating is denied. A rating greater than 10 percent for the left inguinal hernia as of March 16, 2020 is granted.